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O.K. I give in! Where is everybody? Can we have register - Coffin, here sir. Cheers Steve

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Thank God that I was not the poor soul who got the start-of-term dates wrong and turned up in cap, blazer and well ironed flannels a day early. Hallett, present sir! It does however beg the maudlin question about God's own register - my mother (88 and still going fairly strong) keeps reminding me that even though I gratefully grasped early retirement with both hands, I AM a pensioner and therefore officially an oldie. I think she is exhibiting a serious episode of "we're both in the same boat now". Not a particularly comforting thought! Mike

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Hi Mike Thank God, there is somebody out there!! We have a class of two complete with our uniforms from SmartWear. I have to say though that I liked our school uniform and colours. At least we did not look like Harlequins or clowns like some of the other schools. I still have approx 14 months before I officially retire, will there be any money left in the Government coffers to pay me hard earned index linked pension!? My father is 87 and is fitter than me so I have high hopes of taking them for a few bob! Remember, you are only as old as the woman you feel. Keep rockin' Cheers Steve

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Tell you what - I'll bring in some Buddy Holly 45s along with my new Dansette and invite some girls from Bath Convent School (I'll pass on that Anne Widdecombe - bit too loud for me - but there are some some rather delicious types there nevertheless). Then we can party until the rest arrive............ If only, Mike

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Hope this one gets through, some of the thoughts I have written don't seem to get added, anyone else finding the same?

On a lighter note we've just returned from our trip to India, quite an experience I can give a wealth of information for anyone thinking of doing it on a budget, 1 - DON'T!, 2 - take plenty of toilet paper!, 3 - be prepared to laugh a lot, 4 - wear a face mask.

Honestly we had a great time, once you accept that the customs are very different from ours, (and everyone else's), India's a fascinating country with some very friendly people. Yes there is poverty, pollution like you've never imagined, a general lack of sanitation, and the most terrifying traffic in the universe, but on the other side of the coin are some of the most amazing sights you are ever likely to see and experience. Udaipur, the Amber Fort at Jaipur, Saranath where the Buddha began his teaching, and the ghats at Varanasi, were stand outs for us. Having breakfast in a cafe in Pushkar while being entertained by a troop of monkeys about three feet away was hilarious, as was the monkey that pinched another tourists bag of bananas at the Red Fort in Agra. Tuk tuk rides through the centres of cities would be enough to provide adrenaline rush thrills for anyone, forget Alton Towers et al, no safety nets here!

Will post a few pics soon Stu

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Yes Stu, Several of my posts went the way of toilet paper as well. The front page doesn't record the latest posts either - I'm pretty sure that it did up until quite recently. Mike

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Wecome home Stu You echo my feelings and experiences of India. Fantastic country of extremes, we loved it. Our heart, like George Harrison's, is in India. Varanasi is a city that defies description and belief. Everyone must go there, a city that has 20000 pilgrims every day!! (Check out my travelogue in "Documents"). Look forward to photos. Yes, the site is misbehaving again. Cheers Steve

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Hi Guys. Welcome back Stu. Glad you and Shirl both survived India OK and it was such a great cultural experience. By the way, Stickland correct and present! In spite of difficulties with the site not updating again. I'm in for the Buddy Holly singles on the old Dansette with the Convent girls, although Bath Art School lot weren't too bad either even if a bit 'stuck up'. Know what you all mean about retirement. I technically retired in April this year, but decided to do a bit part time. Now I'm working harder than I did when full time employed!!!!!!!!!!! Stoke on Trent tomorrow for the second week and on to Shrewsbury next week for a week to 10 days then back to base to build a panel for delivery before Christmas. Ah well, I suppose the extra cash will be handy if I can find a way to keep the government from taking it away from me. Still at least I have the consolation that I'm helping them to provide you guys with your fair dues, but unfortunately I strongly suspect that it doesn't work like that................ Have fun guys. Sticky

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Damn! Priest here. Late again! Took my eye of the ball and months vanished! No exciting events such as malaria or tummy bugs in India but Derbyshire started off at 27 degrees in early October! Amazing! Since then family and visitors (one from Western Australia) have filled the days! Never fancied a Convent lass, but Royal School was something else! Golly that Dansette rings bells. Pull back the arm and the disc would play on repeat. 'Little Red Rooster' by the Stones rang many a bell. Ended up married to a Norwich High School offering so perhaps I had aspirations to a geographically higher contour than the Convent (river level) anyway!

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